1 Dead, 4 Critically Hurt In Dan Ryan Crash

CHICAGO (CBS)– A man was killed and four others critically injured in a crash Sunday morning in the express lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) on the Near South Side.

At approximately 4:20 a.m., a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica minivan was stopped for traffic ahead while traveling in the express lanes on the Dan Ryan northbound near 26th Street, Illinois State Police said.

While the Pacifica was stopped, it was rear-ended by a 2005 Chevrolet Uplander, a vehicle that is a cross between a minivan and a pickup truck. The collision caused the Chevrolet, which had three people inside, to strike the right wall and roll over, state police said. It was unclear which of the three in the Chevrolet was the driver, according to state police.

Five people were extricated from the pin-in crash, according to Fire Media Affairs spokesman Kevin MacGregor.

One of the occupants of the Chevrolet, 32-year-old Dennis Moore of Steger, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was he was later pronounced dead, state police said. Another occupant of the Chevrolet was taken to Northwestern Hospital and listed in serious condition, state police said.

The driver of the Chrysler, the only person in that vehicle, was also taken to Stroger Hospital, with non-life threatening injuries, state police said.

MacGregor said that initially, apart from the man who later died, four people were taken to Northwestern Memorial and Stroger hospitals in critical condition.

All local northbound and southbound lanes of the Dan Ryan around the scene of the accident were closed for at least an hour following the crash. The northbound express lanes remained closed for at least five hours afterward as state police investigated the crash.

The investigation remained ongoing Sunday afternoon and no charges have been filed as of about 1:30 p.m.